ADAM IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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BECAUSE OF YOUR GIFT OF HOPE

When we last wrote about Adam, we talked about his dream of pursuing opportunities in the community where he could help others who were struggling in life. We’d like to provide an update on Adam’s progress. But first, a bit of background.

Adam’s early life was filled with hardship and tragedy. Throughout his childhood, his parents suffered from addiction and Adam also fell into addiction in his early teens. By the time he was 20 he had lost two siblings to violent death. He became a father at the age of 22, but lost contact with his son. Adam was living a life filled with anger and mistrust.

Adam came to The Ottawa Mission in 2007 desperate for help. He had heard about our LifeHouse residential addiction treatment program, and was determined to make a change. It’s now been eight years since Adam graduated from LifeHouse, and he still can’t say enough about what he took away from the experience. “I had very few life skills when I came to The Mission. I was also angry at a lot of people in my life. I learned how to forgive – myself and others – and how to manage my addiction. These are priceless gifts, and I feel blessed.”

Adam has turned his blessings into action in the past year and has moved forward with fulfilling his dream. For the past several months, Adam has been volunteering weekly at The Mission’s Day Program where he offers encouragement and support to others who are dealing with trauma and addiction. He has also been spending time helping young offenders at another community agency. And Adam’s other great joy is that he has built a strong and loving relationship with his 14-year old son.

For Adam, the most important message to get across to people who are struggling is that forgiveness is the key – forgiving others who have caused harm in your life, and forgiving yourself. He feels that there is nothing that cannot be overcome in life, and he is living proof.